“Age Is Simply a Number” Is More Than Just Words
In the society in which we are raised, there are a set of norms and clearly defined boundaries. These regulations are never arbitrary or haphazard. They are the result of the interaction between nature, general agreement, and what the majority considers to be common. People today are working hard to challenge society’s established conventions.
“Age is just a number” is a proverb that is endorsed by celebrities. These words can be found scribbled on walls. Perhaps your friend’s locked-screen background has this quotation. But does anyone understand what it means? It’s just meant to be a quote for inspiration. You are never too old or young to try something you are passionate about because age is just a number. Is that correct? Don’t you think this is bacchanal?
This article will discuss what this phrase means and how it impacts our lives.
What is Age?
Age is a complicated, multifaceted, and highly personal topic. It can be difficult to pinpoint the precise effects of ageing on an individual. However, it is one that we must all deal with. We can’t get away from it. It affects all of us differently, and we need to understand what our age means for our physical and mental health.
In common, Age means the length of time that somebody has lived or that something has existed. But what is the real definition of age? Your birth certificate number? Is the date on the calendar? How many wrinkles do you have on your face? We all have different ideas about what it means to be old. Some people strongly believe that “Old Age is just a number.” They believe that worrying about the number of candles on the cake is pointless.
Age should not be used to define how you feel about yourself. You should not let the number on your birth certificate prevent you from pursuing your dreams. We all have a limited amount of time on this planet, and we must make the most of it.
Our Ingrained Beliefs About Ageing Need to be Seriously Questioned: To ensure that we and others around us live longer lifespans, we must all acknowledge that chronological age is not an accurate indicator or prediction of performance, capacities, or skills. There are undoubtedly significant changes that institutions and employers must make to combat the prevalent ageist attitudes that people of all ages face. We will be better able to open our minds to the opportunities that a longer life can bring if we can reset our preconceptions about ageing. To get us started, here are some of those long-standing, and frankly, incorrect, assumptions.
We assume that all older people are the same: We need to stop using language that makes older people seem different from the rest of us. According to Laura Carstensen, director of the Stanford Center for Longevity: “As long as we refer to older people as “they” – as in the third person, we will have negative views of old people.” Our workplaces are all too frequently contaminated by this harmful stereotyping. We should not regard our ‘elder’ colleagues as distinct from ourselves. Chronological age shouldn’t be used to gauge a person’s personality or motivation for a career, nor does it define who they are inside or outside of the workplace.
Older people are thought to be incapable of learning new skills: We know that our brain constantly generates new brain cells. We all learn differently, but the key to learning, regardless of age, is to challenge ourselves every day, adopt a growth mindset, and practise new skills until we are truly mastered. So, don’t assume that as you get older, you’ll be less capable of developing your skills or keeping up with emerging technology. The science says that this isn’t true if you adopt the right mindset.
As we get older, we believe that we should slow down and put our tools away: You don’t have to put down your tools and slow down in any aspect of your life just because you’ve reached a certain age that society considers to be somehow “old.” We all live longer and healthier lives than ever before, which gives us more time to do the things that make us happy. Ageing isn’t something that can be fixed, endured, or avoided. Aging should be welcomed and celebrated, and the “extra time” we all have is a gift that should be put to good use.
Common Myths About “Older” Workers Debunked
Let us begin by defining the term “working age.” According to the OECD, it includes those who are 15 to 64 years old. However, statistics suggest that the number of people working above the age of 64 is increasing – the Office of National Statistics reports that employment rates for individuals 65 and older doubled between 1993 and 2018.
So, according to the figures, the ‘working-age’ population is getting higher. There are various reasons for this, including the fact that many people will need to work for extended periods for financial reasons, while others may just love the purpose and meaning that employment brings. However, a large part of this is due to work being redesigned and re-engineered. The increase in flexible working patterns, along with technological advances, means that the jobs we perform and how we do them are changing – mainly for the better, for all generations, young and old.
But what are the distinct advantages that ‘older’ workers might bring to an organisation?
Following are a few items
Older folks don’t impede younger ones from finding work: This is known in economics as the ‘lump of labour fallacy,’ which is the belief that the number of jobs in an economy is fixed. If older individuals continue to work, they will have more money to spend, which will stimulate the economy and add to overall job growth. According to the BBC report, if everyone worked one year longer, annual GDP would increase by 1%.
Higher emotional intelligence (EQ): Employees with high EQ can effectively comprehend and manage emotion, which makes them better communicators. They can also diffuse conflict and empathise with others, according to psychologist Paula Durlofsky Ph.D. Of course, EQ is something we can all work on improving, but research from the University of California, Berkeley discovered that it continues to improve as we get older. People frequently adopt new viewpoints and objectives in their older years that place a greater emphasis on strong human relationships.
Wisdom and knowledge that cannot be taught: Elderly people contribute a plethora of knowledge and insight to a company that cannot be taught but can only be gained through experience. “Too frequently, we don’t recognise the wisdom and experience that older people provide,” Cavendish writes in her book. It makes sense because years of experience and the knowledge and expertise gained over that time are priceless.
Increasing customer-centricity: As consumer behaviour changes, we should strive to dig into how ‘older’ personnel in your organisation see things and what they want – that’s a win-win for any business trying to bring customer-centricity front and centre of everything they do.
Increasing Productivity: According to research, just one ‘older’ worker on a team can boost the unit’s overall productivity. As previously said, this could be driven in part by the enhanced knowledge, expertise, and EQ that ‘older’ individuals contribute to a team.
Conclusion
Age is just a number, not a predictor of potential, performance, skill, or anything else. It’s high time we all understood that. We’re all getting older, and we’re all fortunate to have longer lives ahead of us. After all, age is subjective! A positive attitude and a healthy active lifestyle can keep us young!
Those who dare to become their truest version will find a deeper purpose in life. And, when life has a purpose, time has no boundaries. When time has no boundaries, age is just a number!
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